‘Buffy the Vampire Slayer’ star Nicholas Brendon passes away

Nicholas Brendon, best known for playing Xander Harris in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, has died at the age of 54.

His family confirmed he passed away in his sleep from natural causes, remembering him as “passionate, sensitive, and endlessly driven to create.” In recent years, they noted, he had developed a deep love for painting and art.

Brendon starred alongside Sarah Michelle Gellar in the культ-favorite series, portraying Buffy’s loyal best friend across all seven seasons from 1997 to 2003. He later appeared in shows such as Criminal Minds and Private Practice.

Tributes have begun pouring in, including from co-star Alyson Hannigan, who remembered him for “years of laughter, love and Dodgers.”

Brendon had been open about his personal struggles, including health issues, addiction, and mental health challenges, while also advocating for speech disorders as a spokesperson for the Stuttering Foundation of America.